For our failure to protect children, God, have mercy.
For our failure to elect leaders who protect lives, God, have mercy.
For our failure to end unjust laws, God, have mercy.
For our tendency to justify evil, God, have mercy.
For our tendency to complicate love, God, have mercy.
For our greed, God, have mercy.
For our pride, God, have mercy.
For our violence, God, have mercy.
For our excuses, God, have mercy.
For our selfishness, God, have mercy.
For our stubbornness, God, have mercy.
For our love of guns, God, have mercy.
For our desecration of childhood, God, have mercy.
For our desecration of the vocation of teaching, God, have mercy.
For our desecration of schools, God, have mercy.
For our desecration of the joy of being young, God, have mercy.
For permitting a society full of inequality, God, have mercy.
For allowing money to have more power than people, God, have mercy.
For putting any life above another life, God, have mercy.
For calling people monsters, God, have mercy.
For our failure to love our enemies, God, have mercy.
For our failure to believe in you, God, have mercy.
For our failure to follow your nonviolent way, God, have mercy.
For our failure to trust You, God, have mercy.
For our failure to trust each other, God, have mercy.
For our failure to love one another, God, have mercy.

Heal our sorrow, Help us, Good God.
Mend our hearts, Help us, Good God.
Make us yours Help us, Good God.

For teens who teach us how to raise our voice, We thank you God.
For teens who turn trauma into strength, We thank you God.
For teens who lead us on the path of peace, We thank you God.
For teens who speak Truth to power, We thank you God.
For teens who lead us to true freedom, We thank you God.
For teens who are smart and articulate, We thank you God.
For teens who are deep and wise, We thank you God.
For teens who are the hope of this nation, We thank you God.
For teens who offer their gifts to the greater good, We thank you God.

Heal our sorrow, Help us, Good God.
Mend our hearts, Help us, Good God.
Make us yours Help us, Good God.

Revenge, Forgiveness and Jesus

Adrienne Keller

Originally posted on her Blog, https://vabutsy.com/

“…Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself…” Philippians 2:6-8

The sweet spot of revenge
Is power reclaimed
I am better than the other

The sourness of revenge
Is power abused
I am just like the other

The sweet spot of forgiveness
Is pride reasserted
I am better than the other

2 Comments

They tried to silence me
They did not like my opinions
They called me names like Libtard
They said I was most judgmental,
Falsely Christian, condescending
They are my family, my loved ones
They do not know me

They say be careful what I say,
That I am crude, disrespectful,
Nasty, lack class and strongly opinionated
They said I am out of control and
need them in my life to regain balance
They are my family, my loved ones
They have not walked in my shoes

They say to not speak about politics or religion
In order to have friends, to have peace in the family
They are my family, my loved ones
Others say speak out for justice, against violence
That to be silent is to be complicit
These are my friends, companions on the journey
Creator God, who am I and what do I need to say?

In reflection, I am aware of truths, exaggerations, untruths
For the former, I am truly sorry and seek forgiveness
For the untruths or exaggerations I grant forgiveness
Lastly, being made in Thy image and likeness,
Give me the grace to harm no one by my words,
Thoughts or actions, even if that keeps me silent
Help me to see Thy hand in all people and in creation